General info

The main purpose, usage and tactics recommendations

General play style

Vehicle characteristics

Tactics

The F.222.2 is a heavy hitting bomber with okay maneuverability at low altitude and low air speed, and can carry a staggering 52x50 kg bombs. Combined with its frequent presence in Ground Strike matches with only light vehicles, it will make short work of any (or even all) groups of armored cars and SPAA it crosses paths with, and can demolish an opposing team's entire complement of AAA and artillery in short order. Additionally, the ability to carry larger bomb loads later in its upgrade tree turns it into an exceptionally capable base killer, often time wiping out bases solo without sacrificing its heavy-hitting power against armored columns. With some skill (and an escort from friendly fighters), the F.222.2 can wipe out an entire column of medium tank AI targets in a single pass, with enough firepower left over to seriously cripple another column.

Specific enemies worth noting

You have a low BR and a bomber spawn, which gives you an initial advantage over most planes. Biplanes shouldn't be an issue as they struggle to climb and are usually lightly armed. Early monoplanes pose more of a threat. These include:

BF109 E1- It climbs well, it's fast and it has enough firepower to bring you down or at least cripple you. If you see one tracking you it is best to dive down and hope that a friendly will be able to help you out. If you want to fight it out, ensure that you are as accurate as possible with your defensive machine guns.

He-100- The He-100 is one of the fastest planes until tier 4, an impressive feat for a br 1.7 aircraft. It can quickly intercept you while you climb from a height that no other plane can achieve so quickly at its ranks. Its armament is light but more than enough to bring you down if the pilots aim is good.

Counter-tactics

The F.222.2 needs a hard hit to take down, due to its robust construction and multiple engines.
The turrets, though not chambered in a particularly powerful cartridge (7.5mm MAC), are still able to seriously damage or outright destroy light fighters. Use caution when approaching from the rear, especially from below. The ventral gunner has a surprisingly good field of fire for a low-tier ventral gun. Head-on attacks may be more successful, due to the extensive glazing on the nose and the presence of a dead zone for the dorsal and ventral gunners in that direction.

Pros and cons

Pros

Impressive bomb load.

Different bomb options make this bomber very versatile.

Fuselage can absorb alot of damage

Once at altitude, it can be very hard to reach for reserve planes.

Cons

Incredibly slow and very heavy.

Engines are very vulnerable to enemy fire.

Slow speed, heavy weight, and no takeoff flaps makes taking off from the airfield on some maps when fully loaded very difficult.

Performance

Modules and improvements

History of creation and combat usage

Development and variants

In the later half of the 1920s, the French Farman Aviation Works company set to work on an aircraft based off a pusher-pull engine configuration. Their design led to a large bomber aircraft known as the F.220, which had its maiden flight in 26 May 1932. This initial variant was only utilized as a mailplane in civilian business, of which four were built.[1] Farman improved on the F.220 design by covering the gunner stations and new engines, being redesignated as the F.221.[2] After flying in May 1933, ten F.221 were produced for use in the French Armee de l'Air (Air Army) by 1936.

After the success of the F.221, Farman continued working on the F.220 design and eventually evolved into the F.222 aircraft. The F.222 featured a retractable undercarriage, and newer Gnome-Rhone 14Kirs engines. This led to the F.222.1 as a prototype and 11 units were produced, but then further modifications such as the usage of the Gnome-Rhone 14N-11 engines and a longer nose section led to the F.222.2 model. This variant was introduced into the French air force in 1937 with 24 built.[2]

The F.222 model was further improved on in flying characteristics into the F.223 model, which featured a new tail with twin rudders, a more aerodynamic-friendly design, and the usage of Hispano-Suiza engines. At this time period, the Farman Aviation Works were nationalised into the SNCAC, which affected the plane designations and so after the plane was deemed flyable, it was designated the SNCAC N.C.223.[3] The N.C.223 went into production under the N.C.223.3 and N.C.223.4 models. The N.C.223.3 was the primary bomber variant and eight were built from December 1939 to March 1940. The N.C.223.4 were airline variants meant for the civilian market, three sold to Air France.[2]

Combat usage

The F.222 were the only major French 4-engine bombers that were available for use when World War II broke out. In the Battle of France in May-June 1940, these bombers were put to use to night bombing and dropping leaflets over Germany. In 07 June 1940, the N.C.223 was the first bomber to raid Berlin, with another event happening three days later.[2]

Combat with the F.220 bombers decreased as the German were on the brink of winning the Battle of France. Before this, a pilot named James Denis commandeered a F.222 on June 20th and with 20 other pilots in stow, flew the bomber to Britain, later all joining the Free French Air Force. After the Fall of France, the F.222 and N.C.223 were relegated to a transport roles in both Free and Vichy France, seeing use until they were eventually decommissioned.[2]